The History of Argyle: A Pringle of Scotland Icon
Pringle of Scotland’s love affair with Argyle began in the 1930s, when a simple 90-degree twist on a knitting machine sparked a design revolution. The result was a bold new diamond motif that has been iconic to Pringle ever since.
The new Argyle pattern caught the eye of the Duke of Windsor, cementing its place in fashion history. It quickly became the unofficial uniform of golf, with the bold geometric design fitting right in on Scotland’s fairways. In the 1980s, colour again ruled the runways, and our Argyle exploded back into fashion in vivid, high-impact combinations. The brighter the clash, the bigger the statement.
Today we continue to reinvent the pattern for modern looks, keeping the heritage, and dialling up the style.
The 80s Argyle
As football icons dominated the pitch in the 80s, Pringle’s Argyle was making a statement. Enter the Football Casuals: a youth subculture of style-savvy supporters who swapped traditional team colours for razor-sharp streetwear.
What was once upper-class leisurewear, preferred by golfers and royalty, was suddenly charged with attitude. The diamond knits became match-day staples, worn to stand out and out-style the opposition. Argyle had become a symbol of subculture cool.
A Star On and Off the Screen
Argyle’s cinematic legacy is nothing short of iconic. It has graced the wardrobes of legends, from Brigitte Bardot to Grace Kelly, and from Jean Simmons to David Beckham.
In 1996 Pringle’s argyle pattern made its name on the big screen. You won’t spot many trains in Trainspotting, but you will see a lot of our iconic argyle. One of Danny Boyle’s greatest villains, Begbie swaggered onto screens in a pastel yellow Pringle Argyle, gold chains glinting, bringing new edge to the diamond pattern. The sequel delivered another hit of nostalgia, with his grey-and-pink jumper proving the pattern’s staying power.
The Diamond Today
From supermodels to film stars, from red carpets to street style, Argyle continues to shine today. In recent years, the enduring print has been spotted on Sophie Dahl, Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, and David Beckham.
At Pringle of Scotland, we’re still updating our favourite motif to this day, combining fresh colours and modern cuts with the same, unforgettable diamond. Argyle isn’t just a pattern – it’s a legacy.
Modern Argyle: Reworked for Today
From its breakthrough in the 1930s to its presence on screens, streets and runways, Argyle has remained one of Pringle’s most enduring signatures. Each generation has shaped it in a new way, from golf greens to the Football Casuals, from Hollywood icons to contemporary style.
Today, that spirit of evolution continues. In our exclusive collaboration with JW Anderson, Argyle enters a fresh chapter. The familiar diamond is transformed through oversized layouts, unexpected colour combinations and bold intarsia designs, all created in Scotland. It’s a modern reinterpretation of a pattern that has defined Pringle for nearly a century, and proof that Argyle’s legacy isn’t just preserved, but continually pushed forward. In this collection, Modern Argyle comes into focus: bold, expressive, and unmistakably contemporary.
